Aser Abbas, Ph.D., P.E., University of Rhode Island, is the winner of the DFI Young Professor Paper Competition. His paper, “Modeling Downdrag on Piles in Inundated Collapsible Soils,” was recognized for its high quality and relevance to DFI’s mission and membership, as well as its valuable contribution to the engineering profession.
Abbas will present his paper as an invited speaker at DFI’s 51st Annual Conference in Orlando, Florida, during Plenary Session 2 on Tuesday, November 3.
Abbas is an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Rhode Island and a licensed professional engineer. His research includes soil-pile interaction under varied and challenging ground conditions, as well as the in situ dynamic characterization of soils and rocks. His work bridges academic research and engineering practice. He helped develop deep foundation design software used by the Alabama Department of Transportation and has contributed to site characterization projects involving critical infrastructure, including nuclear power plants in the United States and internationally. He also participated in the NIST-sponsored forensic soil investigation of the Champlain Towers South collapse in Florida. Before entering academia, Abbas practiced structural engineering in Egypt for six years, an experience that continues to influence his approach to research, teaching and engineering practice.
DFI and the DFI Educational Trust annually hold the Young Professor Paper Competition to help bridge the gap among practice, studies and research. The 2026 winner receives free conference registration, two nights of lodging, a $1,000 travel stipend and a complimentary two-year DFI Individual Membership.